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Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project is in the running to become the UK’s most popular civil engineering project.

Online voting has opened for the ICE People’s Choice Award, allowing everyone that uses infrastructure to shine a light on the UK’s greatest civil engineering achievements this year.

Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project is one of 12 nominated projects from across the UK. The public have until November 30 to vote for their favourite. The winning project will be announced in January 2017.

Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project is an Essex landmark conservation and engineering scheme on a scale never before tried in the UK. It combines ecological research and environmental vision with commerce and innovative industrial engineering. A mutually beneficial partnership between the RSPB and Crossrail is creating replacement wetland habitats whilst disposing of excavated material.

Movement of material from London on this scale by water had never been attempted before but BAM Nuttall, contracted by Crossrail, proved it can be done.

The project has already won four honours in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) East of England’s Merit Awards.

Cllr June Lumley, Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community, said: “This innovative project will transform Wallasea Island into the largest intertidal habitat for birds in the whole of Europe; a stunning 700 hectare sanctuary for wildlife right on our doorstep.

“This has been a tremendous feat of engineering, and has necessitated the importation of millions of tonnes of spoil earth from the Crossrail development, so I am delighted to see the project nominated for such a prestigious award.”

ICE East of England Regional Director Glen Owen said: “Civil engineers create, maintain and operate almost everything between and under our homes. The infrastructure they build connects, nourishes and improves the lives of everyone it serves.

“Working on the frontline of civilisation, civil engineers are as indispensable to society as doctors, teachers, police and social workers. Imagine if the Dartford Crossing didn’t exist – vehicles would have to rely on ferries. Without civil engineering billions of people around the world would be poorer, disparate and isolated - no train stations, airports, clean water, waste treatment, roads, internet or electricity. Farms would wither and businesses would go bust.”

“This is an opportunity to celebrate civil engineers, who design and build infrastructure for the public and make a world of difference to local communities. Vote now for your favourite infrastructure project and help promote the overwhelmingly positive contribution of civil engineering to everyday life.”